Volunteers Support School Partnerships

3M volunteers make a measurable difference in St. Paul Public Schools. Increasing numbers of at-risk students are passing basic skills tests, studying math and science, graduating, and choosing higher education.

About 100 3Mers volunteer as one-on-one tutors at Harding and Johnson high schools through the 3M-Johnson-Harding Business/School Partnership. At least 50 percent of Harding students with a 3M tutor passed the test. Others made large gains in their scores -- in some cases, 50-point gains in the number of questions they got right. Others volunteer as science fair judges and career speakers.

Now in its fourth year, the partnership concentrates on student achievement, graduation and college readiness. The partnership is not about money, but about engaging employees and retirees who encourage students and give them confidence to succeed, dream about the future and set goals.